Keeping Things Uncomplicated

You know I love my leopard and cheetah and lately, what with working from home and the anxious environment that pervades, the most intricate outfit I can muster is an easy cotton dress and a cardigan. And it’s perfect for that odd day when I get a half hour of free time in between working from home and starting the second shift of childcare responsibilities and can actually take a nap on the couch – it’s basically pjs that I can wear to "work."

dress: Old Navy / cardigan: Simons / boots: Aldo / bracelet: Jenners

Managing

Well, I had wanted to get some photos of this delightful leopard print cardigan I recently added to my closet and the weather had other plans as I was too damn cold to even take my coat off. Next time, next time…

In terms of COVID-19 updates, all I can really say is that I'm managing well so far. At this stage, I am extremely fortunate in that I don't have to worry about job loss or salary cuts or anything like that and I am able to effectively work from home - which is what I and all of my colleagues are doing. While there may be times when I need to go into my office (like this past Monday to run a very important and long online meeting that I want to make sure I have a giant screen and stable wifi for), I work on a University campus where 95% of people are not home and there's so one else in my office so I can accomplish an office visit without being in physical proximity to anyone.

Eleanor is in a small day home with just three other children (and their parents are also working from home now) so I still have access to safe childcare. But, even if that changes and I need to keep Eleanor home with me all day, I'll still be able to shuffle work responsibilities around enough such that I will continue to be able to effectively work remotely. When I do have to leave the house for things that might bring me into contact with others, I'm taking all the necessary precautions of social distancing, hand washing, and not touching my face. And while getting Eleanor to properly wash her hands is an ongoing struggle, thus far we are all healthy, as are our family and friends.

I hope you're all staying safe, getting outside a bit, and preserving your sanity!

leggings: ASOS / cardigan: Anne Klein / coat: The Bay / boots: Aldo / necklace: Stella and Dot

Dressing for the Webcam

Not sure what exactly I’m looking at that seems to be up high in these photos but I suppose that’s neither here nor there. What really matters is the beautiful, deep blue shirt I recently added to my closet and am officially smitten with. Even though I'm working from home, I'm still making an effort to don a work outfit (and I'm in a lot of video meetings so I actually do need to make myself semi-professional looking) and this shirt definitely "pops" over a webcam. You've got to celebrate whatever small things you can these days.

leggings: Old Navy / shirt: Simons / jacket: Zara / boots: Aldo

It Never Fails

Well, it never fails that as soon as I start thinking winter might be nearing its end we get hit with a giant snowfall and temperatures dip back into the -20 range. Luckily I am particularly fond of winter…

In other news, like many, many other people, I am officially working from home indefinitely effective today after I made the decision yesterday to close down my office and have all staff work remotely. Eleanor is in a day home with fewer than six children so the closure of schools, daycares, and larger day homes has not impacted us (yet), which means it's possible for me to move all my meetings online and actually be somewhat productive working from home. All that will definitely change if I have a two and half year old home with me all day but, for the time, I'm just taking things one day at a time and trying to stick to a routine (I tend to not so well working from home, as my maternity leave taught me, so we'll see how this goes). I hope everyone else out there is coping with all this insanity as best they can.

jacket: Zara / jeans: Gap / shirt: ASOS / boots: Aldo

All The Frills: New Office Space

My office layout recently got switched up and the new configuration enabled me to claim a new space and that’s a bit sequestered from the desks of my office mates. I am seriously loving my new space – I have a personal meeting area, lots of space to display all my pictures, a coat rack and entrance/exit all to myself, and a little nook with a comfy chair. I’ve never felt more like a proper Executive Director…

Weekend Reading:

• Well, this is awful. Way to support survivors…
  
• This is a fascinating project!
  
• The history of Goodnight Moon and the librarian that objected strongly to it is not one I had heard before.
  
• I love thinking critically about my beloved Real Housewives franchise.

Shake It Up

Lately I’ve been feeling restless and like I need to shake things up a little. I’ve decided to start with my hair. I feel like I’m mostly always wearing it up these days and I’ve also recently embarked on a re-watch of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which has led me to fall in love all over again with Yolanda’s gorgeous little bob haircut.

Long-time readers of this blog will know that I’ve had plenty of short hair cuts over the years and I think it’s time to return to that. I’m not sure exactly when I’ll get around to making it to the salon, but expect to see me popping up here in the next little while with a hopefully sleek new cut (mine won’t be blonde though – I was blonde for years but I’m sticking with the dark for now)!

leggings: ModCloth / shirt: Old Navy / cardigan: Simons / necklace: Oak + Fort

Frazzled

Work is particularly crazy these days (mostly because we’re in the midst of some staffing changes and so I’m effectively doing two people’s jobs until a new hire for one position starts) and the feeling of being overworked and over tired in definitely showing in my sartorial expressions. I’m just too frazzled to deal with much more than pants and a blazer each day. It’s easy and I’m all about not having to give much thought to the little things right now…

leggings: ASOS / shirt: Old Navy / blazer: Philosophy / necklace: Stella and Dot